Improvement in coal-chutes



NITED STATES PATENT Orrrcn.

THERON KELSEY, OF SOUTH BROOKLYN, YORK, ASSIGNOR TO HIM- SELF AND JAMESE. KELSEY, OF SAME PLACE.

IMPROVEMENT IN COAL-CHUTES.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 184,387, dated November14, 1876; application filed September 22, 1876.

an improved apparatus for dropping coal and other material from a heightto a floor or pile below, which shall be so constructed as to preventthe coal or other material from being broken by collision, and thusprevent the formation of fine coal or dust, and the consequent waste andloss.

The invention consists in the chute made with an open side, closed witha slide, and

strengthened by cross bars, and provided with the hopper; and thecombination of the rest or fulcrum bars and the lever with the open sideof the chute, and the slide provided with a longitudinal row of holes,as hereinafter fully described, to adapt it for use for dropping coal orother material from a height, as set forth.

A represents a chute, which may be square, round, or of any otherdesired shape, and of any desired height. Sixteen inches in diameterwould be a suitable size for an ordinary chute. In the forward side ofthe chute A is formed alongltudinal opening of such a size as to allowthe coal to pass out freely. This opening is closed by a slide, B, whichworks in grooves or rahhets in the chute A, at the sides of saidopening, and may be kept in place by iron pins or other guides.

The open side of the chute A is strengthened, and the said chute is keptfrom being spread apart by the pressure of the coal, by cross or staybars 0, attached to it. To the upper end of the chute A is attached ahopper, D, of such a size as to enable the cars to be readily dumpedinto it. A convenient size for the hopper D would be six feet high andsix by eight feet at its top. The front side of the chute A projectsabove the hopper D, and to its inner or rear side are attached a numberof cross-bars, E, to serve as rests or ful crums for the lever F, forraising the slide B. In the slideB is formed a longitudinal row of holesto receive the end of the lever F, as shown in Fig. 1. Y

The slide B may be raised by atackle or other device, if desired. Thelower end of the chute A rests upon, and is secured to, the floor of theshed, yard, or vessel, and its upper part is supported in position bythe framework of said shed or yard. vice the chute A is first filled to,nearly to, or a little above the platform of the hopper D, and shouldhekept filled to that point. Then,

as the coal is dumped into the hopper D,.it is allowed to flow out ofthe open side of the chute A by raising the slide B. The coal may heallowed to flow out continuously or intermittently, as may he desired.

This construction enables the outflow of the coal to be checked at anytime, and to be readily controlled to keep the chute filled to theproper point. This construction also guards against all the coal runningout of the chute should a slide occur in the pile below. By thisconstruction the breakage of the coal and the formation of fine coalorcoal-dust will be prevented.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secureby Letters Patent- 1. A coal-chute provided with a side open in g,extended from bottom to hopper, or nearly to hopper, in combination witha slide, B, that is gradually raised as the coal accumulates in the bin,so that there may be no sudden fall of coal to binfrom the hopper.

2. The combination of the rest or fulcrum bars E and the lever F withthe open side of the chute A and the slide B, provided with alongitudinal row of holes, substantially as herein shown and described.

THERON KELSEY.

Witnesses:

JAMES T. GRAHAM, O. SEDGwIeK. v

In using the de-

